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IT Division Makes Progress on Strategic Plan

Senior Geoff Pattishall, the student member of the IT Strategic Planning Committee, presents the proposed vision to the division staff.

The Division of Information Technology Strategic Planning Committee recently presented its draft vision, mission, guiding principles, and core values to the entire Division. Their work so far is presented below

Vision
The IT Division will be a national model for the strategic and effective use of information technology among regional comprehensive universities that are committed to engaged teaching and learning which enables the WCU Community to excel.

Mission
The Division of Information Technology supports the university’s mission by providing and maintaining a secure, reliable and supportable information technology infrastructure and cultivating a knowledgeable and effective staff to embrace WCU’s distinctive engaged learning approach, educational outreach, research, community services, and business operations

We comprehend the important strategic value and responsibility being placed by WCU on the Division of Information Technology with respect to achieving the university’s teaching, learning, research, community engagement, and business operational needs and objectives. We are committed to enabling technology that empowers faculty, staff, and students to achieve their objectives and augments their successes.
We are committed to excellence in IT client satisfaction and critical system stability.

We will invest in our people to meet current and planned technology changes and advancements in alignment with the WCU needs and strategic plans.

We will never be complacent and commit to continuous improvement and learning, growing, and challenging ourselves, teams, and processes as technology and WCU objectives change and adapt.

We will work collaboratively across our teams and are committed to achieving shared goals.

We are firmly rooted in a culture of being proactive, focused on process improvement, and the prevention of issues and recurring problems.

We are committed to transparent communication, partnership, and decision making with stakeholders.

We will effectively and appropriately manage and communicate risk, including data security risk, associated with academic and operational needs.

We are committed to delivering cost effective solutions and managing funds as if they were our own.

We will buy solutions before building custom systems and use hosted solutions and services that provide the university a cost effective and/or strategic advantages. We will minimize customizations to purchased solutions

Our Core ValuesIntegrity
Integrity is the foundation of IT’s reputation. We earn the respect and trust of people internal and external to the university with behavior that is honest, decent, and fair.

Excellence
Excellence is the guiding principle of the way we approach our work. It requires each of us, individually and in teams, to understand, anticipate, and surpass the expectations of our IT clients. Excellence demands continuous improvement in all our processes, systems, and services. Our success depends on our ability to learn from experience, to embrace change, and to achieve the full involvement of all our IT team members.

Accountability
Meeting our commitments is an imperative to building trust and delivering our part in meeting WCU’s objectives and goals. It requires us to focus first on WCU’s success and to hold ourselves and our teammates accountable. This requires that we allocate our resources effectively and efficiently and maintain an appropriate balance between today and the future.

Innovation

We share a deep belief in the power of technology to enhance the life and mission of our university. This is not technology for technology’s sake, this is using technology in innovative ways to enable and achieve WCU’s objectives and goals. We seek new levels of employee and stakeholder participation, embrace the opportunities inherent in change, and we are confident in our ability to help shape the future.

Transparency
Being transparent within the division and with our university colleagues and organizations on our plans, priorities, metrics, projects, decision making, and budgets enhances trust and builds effective professional relationships. Transparency demonstrates that IT is not working for IT, but truly working to enable the mission of the university. This includes being open and frequent in our communication.

Valuing Team Members

We know that in the end the commitment and contribution of IT team members will determine IT’s success. Our success is enhanced by having a rich mixture of people. We believe in the fundamental dignity of the individual and value the unique ability of each individual to contribute. We desire that every team member have the opportunity to participate fully, to grow professionally, and to develop to his or her highest potential.

For comments or questions about this work, please contact Dr. Anna McFadden at amcfadden@email.wcu.edu or ext. 2411.